RTÉ and Filmbase are delighted to announce the winner of the 2012 TV50 Doc on the Box initiative to find and nurture a new talent in documentary direction.

Glenn Gannon, from Rosses Point in Sligo, is the winner of a contract to produce and direct a 25-minute, original video documentary story aimed at a twenty-something audience for broadcast on RTÉ Television. The winning documentary idea will be produced and directed within the RTÉ TV Documentary Unit during the summer of 2012 for broadcast on RTÉ later that autumn.

The competition, which was launched to mark fifty years of television in Ireland, was designed to encourage a fresh, emerging voice in video documentary direction and production. Applicants were invited to submit ideas for an original documentary. A shortlist of six was compiled from over sixty submissions, with finalists undergoing an interview before the eventual winner was chosen.

Glenn impressed the judges with his winning documentary idea that focuses on dilemmas many young Irish people face today. Stripped is the story of a twenty-something Sligo lad who is dealing with the effects of living in recessionary Ireland. He has lost his job, lost his house and lost in love but will not let the odds get him down.

Anne Roper, Head of the Documentary Unit said: ‘Glenn Gannon’s idea impressed because of his story’s timeliness and entertainment potential but also because of the director’s quirky visual eye. The idea suited the RTÉ TV Documentary Unit’s remit to produce stories about Ireland today. The Documentary Unit is a dedicated team interested in exploring new themes and we are excited about seeing Glenn’s idea come to fruition with our support.’